The Hot List

February 23, 2010

By Ehrik Aldana

– Movie: ‘Shutter Island’

Ehrik Aldana

Touted as filmmaker Martin Scorcese’s first venture into the horror genre, “Shutter Island,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, follows a U.S. marshal’s venture onto an island for the criminally insane. The film is adapted by the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane, author of other novels adapted into film, including “Mystic River” and “Gone Baby Gone.”

– Book: ‘Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime,’ by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin

Despite bloggers, journalists and pundits who seemingly exhausted the wellspring of gossip from the 2008 presidential campaign, “Game Change” shows that there are still surprising stories and behind-the-scenes accounts of the then-candidates to be explored.

– Album: ‘Contra’ By Vampire Weekend

Two years following the critical acclaim and commercial success of its debut album, Vampire Weekend returns with “Contra.” The album — featuring Auto-Tune, Ivy League lyrics and catchy world beat-influenced grooves — put the Columbia University indie-rockers in a genre of their own.